DAILY BRIDGE CLUB

If you asked Cy the Cynic to describe himself in three words, he would say “terse” or, more likely, “lazy.” When Cy is declarer, he pounces on the first more-or-less reasonable line of play he sees.

At today’s four spades, Cy correctly covered West’s jack of clubs with dummy’s king. (If dummy played low, East would signal low, and West would shift to a heart.) Cy ruffed the next club and took the A-K of trumps.

When East showed out, the Cynic started the diamonds. Alas, West ruffed the third diamond and led a heart, and East took the ace and queen for down one.

Impulsivity was Cy’s undoing. After he ruffs the second club, he can lead the ace and a second trump, but when West follows low, Cy should play dummy’s jack.

As the cards lie, Cy could make an overtrick, but the contract would be safe even if East had the queen of trumps. If East led a third club, Cy could ruff and run the diamonds to pitch a heart from dummy, losing one trump, one club and one heart.

Daily question

You hold: ♠ A10973 ♥ 873 ♦ Q1064 ♣ 2. The dealer, at your left, opens one heart. Your partner doubles, you bid one spade and he raises to two spades. What do you say?

Answer: Your partner’s two spades promises a hand worth at least 17 points. He couldn’t afford to raise with fewer points since your response was forced; you might have had no points at all. Since you actually have a five-card suit plus a useful queen, bid four spades. North dealer

Both sides vulnerable